Bryan Liles, a developer based in Baltimore, said he is not a fan of HP products in general but bought a TouchPad because he has always been interested in webOS. Despite the challenges, it isn't too late for HP to make its mark on the tablet market, he said.

"Every new tablet that's released is automatically compared to the iPad," Liles said. "There can't be a better iPad. That doesn't mean that Android or HP can't carve out a space where they actually deliver better products."

He already has a few Android devices in addition to an original iPad. He expects to use the TouchPad for application development, browsing the Web and as an entertainment device for his kids.

Other buyers were happy owners of Palm devices such as the Pre and Pixi smartphones, and see the TouchPad as a companion device. Brent Woodruff, a computer engineer in Tallahassee, Florida, is happy to see an alternative to all the Android-based products.

"Happy to say we are Android free. Avoid the 'droid," Woodruff said.